{"id":911,"date":"2017-08-08T15:36:33","date_gmt":"2017-08-08T15:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=911"},"modified":"2018-02-01T16:56:34","modified_gmt":"2018-02-01T16:56:34","slug":"it-makes-us-feel-better-exchange-delivers-a-lifeline-for-soldiers-supporting-nato-mission-in-poland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2017\/08\/08\/it-makes-us-feel-better-exchange-delivers-a-lifeline-for-soldiers-supporting-nato-mission-in-poland\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018It Makes Us Feel Better\u2019: Exchange Delivers a Lifeline for Soldiers Supporting NATO Mission in Poland"},"content":{"rendered":"

BEMOWO PISKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland \u2013 <\/strong>For nearly 1,000 Soldiers serving at the tip of the spear as part of NATO\u2019s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Poland, reminders of home are close at hand thanks to a 53-foot-long Army & Air Force Exchange Service trailer<\/a> parked on the Polish installation.<\/p>\n

\"\"Since the end of March, the Mobile Field Exchange<\/a> (MFE) has brought cold drinks, microwavable meals and supplies\u2014even TVs and Xboxes\u2014to U.S. Soldiers with Battle Group Poland at Bemowo Piskie Training Area (BPTA), just 100 miles from the Russian border. The U.S.-led multinational battle group, one of four such combat-ready groups operating in Eastern Europe, strengthens NATO\u2019s posture of deterrence and defense while sending a visible signal that an attack against one ally is an attack against all.<\/p>\n

While the Exchange has MFEs and troop stores to take care of Soldiers as the Army\u2019s mission expands throughout Eastern Europe, the trailer at BPTA is the only one to serve U.S. troops supporting a NATO mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Exchange\u2019s service at the tip of the spear represents the very best of what we do,\u201d said Director\/CEO Tom Shull. \u201cWe are all in to support Soldiers serving with NATO\u2019s Battle Group Poland to ensure they remain ready and resilient. Familiar products and a warm smile can make home seem not so far away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spc. Noah Campbell of Fox Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment<\/a>, who has been at BPTA for three months, appreciates the familiar products the Exchange provides. He stops by the MFE daily for drinks and snacks.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I\u2019m going out to the field for a couple days, I\u2019ll stock up so I can have stuff I can snack on in the field if I ever get tired of MREs,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cThank you to all the people who put this together so we can have a little piece of home. It makes us feel better.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Lt. Matthew Medlin<\/a>, who\u2019s been away from his home near Washington, D.C., for almost a year, the Exchange\u2019s energy drinks and tuna are his lifeline back to the States.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Exchange has been a real morale booster,\u201d Medlin said. \u201cThe guys are able to get a lot of things that they couldn\u2019t get on the economy here\u2014things that remind them of home. It\u2019s really nice having the Exchange follow us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Besides offering drinks, snacks and supplies, the Exchange also has a two-chair barber shop operating in a tent across from the MFE. Sgt. Ian Vincent<\/a>, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, says Soldiers rely on the service.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we couldn\u2019t come here, we\u2019d be practicing on each other,\u201d Vincent said. \u201cWe\u2019d be looking a mess.\u201d<\/p>\n

The five-person Exchange team works hard to meet Soldiers\u2019 needs. If Soldiers can\u2019t find what they need, team leader Mickeal Jenkins<\/a> can special order merchandise from Grafenwoehr.<\/p>\n

\u201cA couple of months ago, a customer asked for an Xbox,\u201d Jenkins said. \u201cI made sure with Command that it was OK, and he said it was perfectly fine, and I was able to bring some in. Customers have also requested TVs\u2014and that\u2019s an item we now keep in the store.\u201d<\/p>\n

2nd<\/sup> Lt. David Truong knows firsthand the kind of personal service Jenkins and his team provide. Jenkins ordered additional ear protection after his was destroyed in the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe manager was very helpful in getting me the supplies I needed,\u201d Truong said.<\/p>\n

Truong also appreciates the comforts of home the MFE provides\u2014chips, tuna and the occasional cream soda.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that behind every soldier, there are 10 more people behind us supporting us,\u201d Truong said. \u201cWithout them, we wouldn\u2019t be able to do what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/p>\n

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http:\/\/www.aafes.com\/about-exchange\/public-affairs\/press-releases.htm<\/a> or follow us on Twitter at https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Media Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or mitchelljul@aafes.com.<\/p>\n

Follow the Exchange:<\/p>\n

Facebook:\u00a0 www.facebook.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Twitter:\u00a0 https:\/\/twitter.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Instagram: @shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BEMOWO PISKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland \u2013 For nearly 1,000 Soldiers serving at the tip of the spear as part of NATO\u2019s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Poland, reminders of home are close at hand thanks to a 53-foot-long Army & Air Force Exchange Service trailer parked on the Polish installation. Since the end of March, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-press_releases"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2017\/08\/08\/it-makes-us-feel-better-exchange-delivers-a-lifeline-for-soldiers-supporting-nato-mission-in-poland\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"\u2018It Makes Us Feel Better\u2019: Exchange Delivers a Lifeline for Soldiers Supporting NATO Mission in Poland","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2017\/08\/08\/it-makes-us-feel-better-exchange-delivers-a-lifeline-for-soldiers-supporting-nato-mission-in-poland\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2017\/08\/08\/it-makes-us-feel-better-exchange-delivers-a-lifeline-for-soldiers-supporting-nato-mission-in-poland\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":""},"articleSection":"Press Releases","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Julie Mitchell"}],"creator":["Julie Mitchell"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2017-08-08T15:36:33Z","datePublished":"2017-08-08T15:36:33Z","dateModified":"2018-02-01T16:56:34Z"},"rendered":"